Man sentenced for hazardous waste scheme

SAN DIEGO -- A man who pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport
hazardous waste from Security Self Storage in Oceanside to sites in
Chula Vista and Bonita was sentenced Monday to 15 months in federal
custody.

U.S. District Judge Marilyn L. Huff ordered Marvin Hutchinson,
56, of Bonita, to start serving his term March 23.

The judge noted that "an extremely dangerous situation" existed
where hazardous waste was discovered at a vacant lot in Chula
Vista.

Hutchinson said he knew the self storage container he was
helping to load contained cyanide mixtures and acids, sometimes in
the same box, and that it was illegal, said Assistant U.S. Attorney
Melanie K. Pierson.

When cyanides and acids are mixed they form a deadly, toxic
hydrogen cyanide gas, according to Pierson. She said other
hazardous wastes were also found in the container.

A co-defendant who was convicted in a separate jury trial will
be sentenced May 29.